Page 180 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

A Visit to Yezidi Shrine
Rev. J. C. Gi.kssnkr
(The Rev. J. C. (ilessner is a missionary oi the Reformed Church in the United '
States, cooperating in the United Mission in Mesopotamia. He is now studying tlic
language at Mosul.—Iluitok.)
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KSTI.KI) against the fuuihilU c#f the Kurdish nuiuntaius, near i
N MumiI, is the Yezidi shrine <»f Sheikh 'Adi. What Jerusalem is ta : . \
the C hristian, what Mecca is l»> the Moslem, that is Sheikh 'Adi tu \
a small body of people (most of whom live in Iraq) known as the
Ye/.idis or devil worshippers, "And they must needs go up to the feast" *
three times a year.
The true origin of the Yezidi faith can only be conjectured. Iiut it is
thought by most scholars to l>e a survival of the old Majian religion of
Persia which has persisted to this day. However, much has been borrowed
from Islam. Judaism, and Christianity. As we meet with it today the >
Yezidi faith is perhaps the most curious concoction that one can imagine..
It comprises a veneration of certain trees and plants (nature worship), of
the sun. moon, and stars, beliefs in the creation, the prophets, an accept*
ance of the Old and New Testaments, the Koran as divine revelation, and .
above all the worship of Shaitan (Satan) who, they believe, is the ruler •
of the world at present. Shaitan is, apparently, a personage more to be i
feared than loved. While God is all powerful He is also forgiving and j
merciful, and is so good that He can do no harm. Whereas, Shaitan muit «
be propitiated and worshiped lest he become angry with his subjects and :
take revenge upon them. To them the word Shaitan does not recall a
picture of Beelzebub with forked tail carrying a pitchfork and going forth
ro meet whom he may devour, but his faithful followers personify him a*
Melek Taus, the divine Peacock.
The writer, together with a fellow missionary and several professor! !
from the University of Beirut, had the special privilege of visiting thi*
sacred shrine during the summer feast. I he trip to Sheikh ’Adi, the tomb :
of the man who first formulated the Yezidi creed, is easily arranged for
with Mosul as the starting point. About two hours’ journey by motor car ,
and one arrives at Ain Safna, u Yezidi village with a few Omnium in*
habitants. Here we had a chance to take a few pictures while the driver - )
filled his radiator from the spring from which, it is believed, Noah started *
his famous historical voyage. Those travelers who do not know the joy
and art of hiking must be sure to provide here for donkeys that will carry *
them up the mountains, for the motor road comes to an end only a
miles beyond the village. But for such a sturdy group as ours, dressed in
khaki shorts for the occasion, no such provision needed to he made.
A few minutes more and the mountains of Kurdistan forced our car
a standstill. The Kurd, with his rifle slung over his shoulder and.dagger !
carefully placed in his belt, became a familiar sight. In order to be (rev - i
from any luggage an agreement was made with families going up qq
donkeys to deliver a few watermelons that we had with us. Our guide.'
who spoke both Arabic and Kurdish, even a little English, dashed to the <
(-out set the pace, and we were off. We advanced m Indian fashion, pick*
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